Huntsville gazette., 1887-12-24

plOW or to hoe %
s1sssszs4ss:a1s4ss<<ff.as ~ reap or to sow. Aal
- S@s-~@ezfsss there was another
called the year Of iubllee-the fiftieth vasr
in which the slaves We're set free ana tbe
| lands were restored to those who hs1 sa,
them. We hear now Of leases forD Dnatr.
nine years, but with the Jews all s4las or
leases expired the forty-ninth, Or veg- "
jubilee. There was great rejoicing when
the time came for the children or the grand
children to get back the old homestead Of
their ancestors.
But the most popular and imp0rtan. Of
all mile-stones is the anniversary Of the
birth of Christ. 1t is very common every.
where to celebrate birthdays. Americans
make big fuss over Washington's birth
day because he is called the Father 0f His
Country. Most every family makes q little
fuss over the birthday Of the parents wv
children. They dom toot horns OF POP fre
crackers, but they have an extra GOOD ,In-
ner and fix up some little present ls
pleasant surprise. The 4th Of July was.
the birth Of Nation, and so the Nation al
ways celebrates that day But Christmas
belongs to all civilized countries II IS a
blessed heritage and belongs to all alike
the rich and the poor, the bord and the
free, the King and his subjects.
Christians began to observe Christmas
about fifteen hundred years ago. IN course
of time the young people rather lost sight
Of the sacredness Of the day and made ".
day of feasting and frolic. They 5aHg
songs because it was said that the ,deD
herds sang songs at Bethlehem. Theymad
presents to one another because the wise
hp hypI1 Cr I p,,p
the young child and its mother
The Roman Catholic church has observed
these celebrations for centuries and tho
church of England took them up and 60 did
the Protestants of Germany and other coun.
tries. In great painting of the Nativity, by
Raphael, there is seen o Shepherd at tho
door playing on bagpipe. The Tyrolese
who live on the mountain slopes OF Italy
come down to the valleys on Christmas
eve. They come caroling sweet songs And
playing on musical instruments. Ihefe
used to be many curious superstitions about
Christmas. 1t was believed that an OK ana
an ass that were near where the SAVIOUR
was born bent their knee in devotion, anl 50
the people believed that all the domestic
animals went to prayer on Christmas
night They believed that when the rooster
crowed for midnight all the wizards and
witches and hobgoblins and evs spTts
fed away from the habitations Of men and
hid in hollow trees and caves and deserted
houses for twelve days.
Mr.. Carlyle said that every nation ia3la
have a hero and should worship him-lltl- l-
god or in place Of the true God bll i5t
next thing to it. He says it cementS Tle
people together and makes them pr01do7
their country and content with their g,y
ernment. This hero may be real or image
ary, but the people must believe that ~
fought for them or died for them or was 'lv
founder of their institutions or their re-
ligiou The ancient Norsemen had Odin
and Thor for their heroes The PersAfs
had their genii and their fairies; tie HA-
docs their rakshar; the Greeks and F1nan'
their wonderful gods and goddesses, 'lcA
as Jupiter and Luna and Hercules ana Nu--
can and Neptune The more enlightened
people becomes. the more sublime are .GeLf
superstitions. The uncivilized indians 4Ta
mystitied, and can only ''see God IN cloa--
and hear Him i'll the wind" The n4Lh.
Africans have crocodiles and serpent5 ann
owls for their gods. Some Of them 0L
higher grade set their faith in foxes 2A9
rabbits and jaybirds. Down South The 9''.
negroes used to tell the white Chhi-e'
stories at night about the tar baby, al !l'
bear and the bee tree, and foxes and W)'t''
but the bad negroes told US about rl'.A'1
and ghosts and Jack olanterns ami il"
head and bloody bones, and we would ii7.cL
until we didn't dare to look round, ah' NH
wouldn't have gone from their CABINS 11 .H'
''big house" alone for world full ol -1lu'
Napoleon said that all men were c0"d.u9
by night, but it was those old negroes ."a-
made US so, and our generation has u5'7t
recovered from it. Christmas was ga,
season for the negroes in slavery times. L.
was feast and frolic for a whole wees
and their children were just as good As ll's
white children then and ali trollcEtu Y
gether.
But at this Joyous season there shor-1 9o
nothing but love and kindness and good "iA.
For twelve DAYS. ii no more, let envy aA-
hate and malice and selfshness All MI Da-
ished to the caves and the wilderness
Then a rich ard merry Christmas % the ricl'
And a bright and happy Christmas 70 ths pot. p.,s
So their hearts are Joyous 1t doesn u''
which
Has the fine velvet carpet on the floor.
For riches bring trouble when they CONS
And money leaves a pain when 1t goes
But everybody now should have d little s1"
To brighten up the year d its close.
Bill AE7.
NEVER wish an Unmarried woman ol ln
certain age a Happy New Year. Sne uI.
more wears already than sh9 hiio'
what to do with Wish her marry Clfl5,-
mas-that may suit her case